Perambulating tractor



P. A. RASMUSSEN.

PEHAVIBULATING TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED IIov-l II, I9I9.

Patented June 28, gf/l.

P. A. RASMUSSEN.

PERAMBULATING TRACTOR.

AfPLlcATloN HLEDANov. 17; 1919. Patentedune'z'ls 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3- P. A. RASMUSSEN.

PERANIBULATING TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. I?, I9I9.

1,382,854, PmnIeaJune 2s, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

I. II. RSIIJIUSSEN. PERAwsumm@ 'www APPLICATION FILED NGV. I7, H519.1,382,854. a'lsned June 28, IIZI..A

6 SHEEIS-SHEH 5,

APPL'ICATION FILED NOV. l?. I9I9. 1,382,854'

I "P. A. RAsMussEN.

PERAMBULATING TRACTOR.)

Patented June 28, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEEI 6.k ff

UNITED STATES PETER A. RASMUSEQ'EN, OF UHCAGO, LLN

PEBAMB'LATING TRACTOR.

Application filed November 17, 1919.

To all flo/1.0m may concern:

lle it known that I, PETER A. RAsnrUssnN, a Citizen ot the UnitedStates, residing at (hiengo, in the count)T ot Cook and State otillinois, have invented certain new and 'useful linlirorenients inPeranihulating 'Tractors'. ol? which the following is a specitiration.

'lhis invention relates to improvements in a motor driven machine ortractor. of a type wherein the supporting' and moving ineinhers theretorsimulate the stepping* action, in operation, of a dra'l't aninial, andwhich, by reason oi' its novel and peculiar construetion. arrangementand operation of its parts can he etl'eetually einployed o1'I operatedon uneven. surfaces or ground haring stones or other projectionsthereon.

rl`he principal ohjeet ot the invention is to provide a machine ot' theabove mentioned `general character which can he used for variousagricultural purposes. such as for drawing plows, harrows, mowingmachines, wagons or trucks and the like7 which can he snitnhl;7connected to its rear portion, or may be employed in excavatingoperations tor 'forcing scoops or shovels. suitably7 inonnted on oreonneeted to its front part. into the material to he removed, and whenthe sanne are loaded to retract, and convey them to a desired pointwhere they may he dnniped ot their loads.

The invention has as a linrther obiect the prmlnetimi ot machine ot thisCharacter which may he steered in its Course while in motion and hedriven in either a forward or backward direction, depending uponnewssit).v or the desires ot the operator.

fther objects and advantages ot the in- ".'ention will he set liorth inthe following' description and explanation.

ln the accompanying drawings, which serre to illustrate an einhodinientot the invent ion-- liigrnre l is a side elevation ot a structureembodying one torni ot the invention.

Figi. 2 is a top plan View of the structure sho wn in i 1g.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 338,451.

il 3 is a ser-.tion taken on line 3-8 oi rig. 2. wir 1g. el is a sectiontaken on line ll-*Qf of it 1g. l.

,3xv 4 v n rin. o is a section taken on line owe ot Fig. 6 is a detailsectional View of elements i ed in the structure, taken on line 6-6otitig o.

Figi'. 'T is a detail ot a portion ot the device showing' the positionot Certain parts in dotted lines. i

Fig. S is nu elevation showing` another detail ot Constrnetion. :ind il? 9 is a detail side elevation of one oi the gears utilized in thestructure.

Corresponding; numerals of reference refer to like parts throngrhont thedifferent Viens of the drawings. i

rthe construction illustrated in the draw* ings employs i'nain freinegenerallyY desir;- .nated l0 which includes the side sills il and l2.the end sills 13 and ltwhieh are all oon- Aeoted together to afford therigid main trarneflO. l truck including the iwheels i6 and l? and shaft1S is pirotallif connected to the end sill lll: hy ineens ot thehorizontal pivot 19.

.i` supplemental traine 2O is provided which is roim'iosed ot.' theCross beanie Ql-Ql and the parallel snpports @2*@2 This sur plen'iental'traine supports the engine 23 and also various other elements whichwill he explai .d in detail in the following' matter. To ti inain trainel() is suitahh7 eonneeted a plnralitf.7 ot snf'inrine tractor elements2l 2G. and 2T which oai-ry the ground enf Ifran'iiigf elements. theseelements to 2T heine' actuated hy the engine 223 through intermediateineohanisni all ot which will he hereinafter more tnllg;v explained.Dorine' the operation of the devies the diagonally opposite pairs ottractor elements to 2T alternately.v and disengrarge the ground orsnr-tace over which the iniiehine is being' operated and thissimnlatesthe walking; action ot animal.

Patented June 2S, 1921.

a horse or other draft' The two forward elements 24 and 27 areconstructed so that the same may be rotated to guide or steer the deviceduring operation. Provision is also made whereby these elements may beactuated or steered from the seat of the operator.

To cause the operation of the machine the engine 23 is started. Thiscauses the shaft 28 to revolve and the pinions 29 and 30 wh'ch arearranged one in front of the other upon the shaft to operate the gearmechanism generally designated 31. This gear mechanism 3l includes apair of gears 32 and 33 each of which is rigidly fastened to itsrespective shaft 554-34 which is journaled in the parallel portions 22of the supplemental frame.

. The gears and 33 each include the segmental toothed portions and 35:twhich are concentric to each other but are of relatively differentdiameters, so that during rotation one portion such as will be engagedby the rearward pinion 29 and the other portion such as 35a will beengaged by the forward pinion 30, which are arranged upon the shaft 28.This will impart a variable motion to theshafts carrying` the gears 32and 33 which will consequently vary the motion of parts connected withsaid shafts Bel-34 and to said gears. Tt will also be noted that thesegears 32 and 33 will be rotated in opposite directions with respect toeach other, as the same are positioned upon opposite sides of thepinions29 and 30.

Through the medium of these gears and portions connected thereto andoperated thereby, the elements 24 to 27 have imparted thereto a motionsimilar to the leg motion of a horse while walking. 1

Tn view of the fact that the mechanisn for operating` the pairs ofelements 25 and 24 and 26 and 27, correspond with each other, only onethereof will be explained in detail. This mechanism includes a crank arm56 which is connected to one of the stub shafts This crank arm has apitman 37 connected thereto whichy extends backwardly to the crans arm38, said arm being in turn rigidly connected to the shaft 39 whichlatter extends across to the opposite side of the machine where it hasprovided thereon another lever or crank arm 40. To the upper end of thislever 40 is connected a pitman 4l the opposite end of which termi" natesin a connection with a universal joint 42 which is in turn connectedwith a swingingportion of the element 27. An adjustable connection 43 isprovided between the pitman 37 and the lever 38 so that movement of theparts may be varied.

Another pitman 44 is provided, which connects the lever 38 and aswinging portion as 45 of the element 25 together; thus the motionderived from the crank arms 36 will be transmitted to the levers 3S and40, which will cause the diagonally opposite pair of elements 25, 27 tobe moved together. This swinging portion 45 is loosely mounted upon theshaft 46 which is mounted in the support 46a which is part ofthe frame10. This arm extends upwardly and carries the shaft 47, this lastmentioned shaft in turn carrying a sprocket 48 which is rigidlyconnected thereto. A sprocket chain 49 is passed over the sprocket 4Sand has its opposite ends secured to the opposite ends of the rigid arm50. An arm 51 extends downwardly from the shaft 47 and is connectedthereto. Gonsequently as the arm 45 is rocked, the sprocket 48, shaft47, and arm 51 will also have imparted thereto a swinging or rockingmotion in a forward and backward direction. y

The lower end of the arm 5l carries a shaft 52 to which is secured thesprocket 53 and the swinging element 54 carrying a loosely arrangedground engaging element A sprocket chain 56 extends upwardly from thesprocket and encircles the sprocket 57 which is loosely arranged uponthe shaft 47. Another sprocket 58 is also loosely arranged upon thisshaft, but is rigidly connected in any suitable manner with the sprocket57 A sprocket chain 57a extends from the last mentioned sprocket to thesprocket 59 which is keyed to the shaft 46. This shaft has a lever 60fixedly secured thereto and has a pitman connection 6l extending from itto the lever 62 which is mounted upon the shaft 63. This shaft extendsacross` the machine to the opposite side thereof, where it is providedwith a lever or crank arm 64, (see Fig. 4). This crank arm has a pitman65 extending therefrom and auniversal connection 66 connecting saidpitman with the crank lever 67 of the element 27. From this it can beseen that the diagonally opposite pairs of elements such as 24-26 and 25and 27 will have al similar successive motion imparted to them, as eachpair is actuated by mechanism similar to that just described.

Another shaft 69 is arranged in proximity to the shaft 63 and also haslever and pitman connectionsA similar to those described in connectionwith the shaft 53, which coopera-te to actuate similar portions of theelements 24 and 2G.

Each of these shafts 63 and 69 has in addition a segmental gear 7() and7l provided thereon which mesh with each other and transmit the motionof one shaft to the other. The shaft 63 has a pair of crank arms 72 and73 securely fastened thereon, each of which has a link 74 which in turnis connected with its respective lever 75 of which there are two, onearranged upon each side of the gear mechanism 31 which includes thegears These levers are pivoted at 76 and of a construction as showniuFig. 6, they ico llo

having` the cam opening 77 so as to permit the shafts 34; to be passedthrough them and to accommodate the anti-friction rollers 78 providedupon each of the zgears 32 and 33, which enga-ge the inner periphery ofthe openings 7T of the levers and raise and lower the same and rock theshafts 63 and 69 to operate the shaf s 6B and 69 and those parts whichare cooperatively connected therewith.V

)is before stated, a means is provided whereby the device may be steeredin its course. To accomplish this end the most for ard elements and 27aie pivotally connected to the frame l0, by means of the hing bolts 79,and are provided with the con necting rods 80, whichv extend hack Vintoproximity to the seat 8l, and are connected to the lever 82 which ispivoted at 83. This lever is connected to the hand lever 8d.

The operation of this lever 84 ivill move the lever S2 and by virtue ofthe connecting rods 8d being` connected therewith Will cause theseforward elements to turn to theriglit or left depemliine,I upon thedirection in which the lever 84 is moved.

The device is further provided with a clutch and `gear shifting`mechanism which may be of the ordinary type noiv in use. These areconfined in the casing S and controlled by the rods 86 and 87. Thesebeing of the usual construction, no detailed eX- pla nation of theirconstruction or operation is deemed necessary.

From the foregoiiuil explanation of the construction, it is evidentfthatwhen the engine is started the gears `generally designated by thenumeral 3l will raise and lower the leve 's 'To Which due to theirconnections rock the shafts (5i-3 and (39. This movement is imparted tothe levers 6() and 64 which rock the shaft Lfl-G of the elements and 27and by virtue of the sprocket and sprocket chain connections leading'therefrom to the sprocket of; will swing` the portion causing the element to engage the ground surface and propel the machine along.

ily virtue of the link connection le bet 'een the crank arms 38 and themotion of the crank arm B8 will be transmitted to the arm l5, and byvirtue of the sprocket t8 and chain 411.9 the shaft 47 and arm 5l willalso be rocked backwardly and forwardly.

Ry referring,` to Figi'. l, 'and particularly to the rearmost element 25it can be seen that said arm 5l ivill be moved rearwardly, the portionsand Will move therewith but will also swineforwardly and engage the`ground. rthe arm 5l will continue to swing; :feanu'ardly until-itassumes a position in which the element and shafts 52, 47 and to are invertical alinement With each other.

and by virtue of the fact that the elements 25 and operate together,this will support the `whole frame Work each time either of' After theparts assume this vertical relation the movement continues until theparts assume the position of thel elements 2e and 26 as shown in Fig. l,which causes the machine to be advanced, it being understood that duringthis time the remainingsimilar elements are moving, to repeat the actionjust described.

From the foregoing it is evident that a simple and efficient arrangementhas been produced for accomplishing the end sought, and as l haveillustrated one embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that changesand modifications may be resorted to Without departing from the spiritof the appended claims.

.Having thus fully described my invention, what l claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent isl. ln a device of the characterdescribed, the combination of a motor, tractor elements having` astepping action driven by said motor, 'a driven shaft operable by saidmotor, a differential gear mechanism driven by said shaftf anoscillatory shaft operably connected with the gear mechanism, said lastnamed shaft forming a means for actuating' said tractor elements.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of motor anda plurality of parallel pairs of tractor elements carryingsaid motor,said tractor elements having a stepping action and being; driven by saidmotor and means including a diiqferential gear mechanism whereby thediagonally disposed pairs of tractor elements are caused to alternatelyengage and be raised from the surface upon which the same are operated.

ln a device of the class described, the combination of a motor and aplurality of pairs of 'tr ctor elements, one ot said pairs beingarranged in rear of the other, said elements havingl a stepping movementand the diagonally opposed pairs being arranged to alternately engagethe surface upon which the device is operated and means coperativeljfconnected with the motor for actuatthe tractors, said means including adifferential gear mechanism and an oscillatory shaft for driving thediagonally disposed pairs of tractor elements.

4. lin a device of the class described. the comt'u ation of a pluralityot pairs of tractor ehunems` said elements being` composed of aililurality of members liinpjedly connected together, one of saidmembers having means connected thereto for actuating` the same andhavinganother member connected thereto, said last mentioned member alsohaving; a member connected to it, means connect-ed to the secondmentioned member for moving' the same upon the actuation of the firstmentioned member 'and means extending from the second mentioned memberfor aetuatiup` the last mentioned member and Cir means for actuating thediagonally disposed pair of tractor elements together.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof pairs of tractor elements, means for actuating the diagonallydisposed pair together, means for actuating one of said pairs to steerthe device, aframe to which said tractor elements are connected, saidelements including a pivoted member secured to the frame, means foractuating said member `and means connecting one ci said pivoted elementswith the other for actuating the same upon the movement of the elementsecured to the frame.

G, In a device of the character described.A the combination of a frame,a plurality'of tractor elements having a stepping laction secured to theframe, said elements including a plurality of' members pivotallyconnected with each other one of which is connected to the frame, meansfor actuating said last mentioned member, means for moving the memberconnected to said last mentioned member upon the movement of said memberH which is secured to the frame, another pivoted member'secured to themember which is actuated upon the movement of the member secured to theframe, an oscillatory shaft and means connected with said shaft foractua-ting` said 'last mentioned member.

7. In a machine of the `class described, the combination of a pluralityof pairs of trac tor elements composed of connected members and having astepping action, a dilfer ential gear mechanism for actuating thediagonally disposed pairs of tractor elements together, a shaft, meansactuated by said gear mechanism for oscillatingsaid shaft and meansconnected with said shaft for actuating one of the members of thetractor elements,

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a motor and aplurality of pairs of tractor elements carrying said motor, saidelements being arranged to alternately engage and be lifted away fromthe surface upon which the device is being operated, a pair of saidtractor elements being constructed to rotate upon independent parallelaxes to permit the device to be steered.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a motorand a plurality of pairs of tractorelements carrying said motor, saidelements being arranged to alternately engage and be lifted away fromthe surface upon which the device is being operated and means wherebyone of said pairs may be moved to steer the device in its path, saidlast mentioned pairs being mounted upon vertical shafts which aresubstantially parallel to each other.

10. In a device ofthe character described, the combination of a motorand a plurality of pairs of tractor elements, carrying said motor, saidelements consisting ofjointed members, said pairs bein arranged toalternately engage and be li ted away from the surface upon which'thedevice is being op! erated, means for moving said tractor elements, saidmeans including a stationary chain and a sprocket cooperating with thechain.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination of a motorand a plurality of pairs of tractor elements carrying said motor, saidelements consisting of jointed members, said pairs being arranged toalternately engage and be lifted away from the surface upon Vwhich thedevice is being operated, one pair of said elements being operable tosteer the devicer in its course, means for operating said tractorelements, said means including a stationary chain and a sprocket, saidsprocket being movable with the tractor elements.

l2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a motorand a plurality of tractor elements consisting of jointed elementsarranged toV alternately engage and be lifted away from the surface onwhich the device is being operated, said elements being arrangedv inpairs one pair in front ofanother, the forward pair being pivoted topermit the same to be turned to steer the device in its course, saidtractor elements being composed of jointed members having meanscoperatively connecting one memberV with the other for transmitting the'move` ment of one member to the other.

Y 13. In a device of the class described, the

Vcombination of a motor and a plurality of pairs of swinging tractorelements arranged to alternately engage and be lifted away from thesurface upon which the device is operated and means for actuating saidtractor elements, said means including a swinging element having securedthereto a second pivoted member, a sprocket connected to said pivotedmember, and a sprocket chain cooperating with said gear.

14. In a machine of the class described, the combination of pivotedtractor elements, composed of members which are pivotally connectedtogether, means connected to one of said elements for actuating saidlast mentioned member and means arranged adjacent an end of said memberfor actuating the member connected to it.

l5. VIn a machine of the class described, the combination of pivotedtractor elements, composed of members which are pivotally connectedtogether, a frame, one of said elements being connected to the frame,means for actuating said element, a pair of elements, pivotallyconnected to the rst mentioned element and Vmeans extending from oneelement to the other for actuating the same upon the movement of theelement connected to theframe.

16. Iln a device of the class described,

the combination of a plurality of pairs of membei1 secured to it, meansconnected to tractor elements, said tractor elements bethe secondmentioned member for moving lo ing composed of a plurality of membersthe same uponthemovement ofthe lirst menhingedly connected together, oneof said tioned member, and means extending from 5 members having meansConnected thereto the second mentioned member for actuating foractuating the same, said member having` the last mentioned member.

another member connected thereto and said last mentioned member havinganother PETER A. RASMUSSEN.

